Soruce: Album Artwork
Prog rock, tech-metal, et-al, the type of alternative music that showcases true musicianship has made a resurgence over the past few years. There was a time when the word prog would send a shudder down your spine, it was music of a lost generation but not anymore, prog should no longer be seen as a dirty word. Now it is a sign of musical ambition and seeing where you can truly take your music. Here we have Washington/L.A group Lithium Dawn with latest offering and part 1 of 2 albums, Tearing Back The Veil I: Ascension. Here to take their piece of the prog rock pie and open some new ears.
The album opens with the title track and it is a fine introduction , showcasing the bands deep technical talent and also a strong, accessible melodic verse/chorus combo that eases you as a listener into the album. This is followed by a slower, brooding ‘Ascension’. A track that burns slowly before opening up into a track with a very Tool feel. Here you begin to notice the strength that Ondrej Tvarozek has as a vocalist, his range is strong and there are definite echoes of Maynard James Keenan.
The slow brooding does not set the pace, far from it. ‘Point Of No Return’ is an all round bad-ass tune, with riffs and grooves that swirl into your conscious. There is so much going on in this album but at no point is it done to excess. Lithium Dawn seem to be a band who not only understand the beauty of a quiet/loud dynamic but seem to know when to add certain musical flourishes which can help to add extra layers to a track.
Sure the songs on this album can be long but that is what music of this ilk need. They need that room to move, breathe and grow. these are not three minute slices of pop. This is an album that needs to be listened to, really listened to. One of those records that need your time and your attention so you can here all that is going on under the covers of each track.
‘Incantation’ is one of two shorter tracks, it works as an almost instrumental interlude before the awesome atmospherics of ‘B’ak’tun’ hit, which is a true contender for song of the album.
All in all Lithium Dawn have delivered a very strong album here, they have their sound and they know how to compose and show it. They are in a genre of purists but stand their own and this album can only push them forwards, hopefully to bigger and better things. As we mentioned earlier, this is a song that needs to be properly listened to, let it in and you will be treated to some at times beautiful, outstanding music. Also remember this is only part 1! We look forward to seeing what the band present to us on Part 2!
